odern horse racing in Japan had its beginnings in racing events that were organized by foreign residents of Yokohama in 1862. In 1861, when Japan was about to move from the feudal system into the Meiji Restoration, foreign residents living in Yokohama, predominantly British, introduced the first Western-style horse racing by establishing the Yokohama Race Club to Japan. Western style horse racing was held in foreign enclaves, and hence, unfortunately, very little is known or recorded about initial era in Japan’s modern horse racing history. At about the same time that the name of the Japanese central city was changed from Edo to Tokyo, Western-style horse racing began to be found in the major metropolitan cities across the country. In 1906, the government embarked on a policy which tacitly allowed to bet. This led to the introduction of modern horse racing featuring sales of betting tickets in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and other metropolitan cities, from which most racing operations benefited. However, this profitable system was short lived; two years later, the government prohibited betting and instituted a system of paying direct subsidies for prize money and other horse racing expenses. During this subsequent period of government-subsidized horse racing, prominent legislators, businessmen, as well as breeders, began active efforts to introduce a horse racing law. Eventually the government began to take proactive position to promote horse racing in order to expand breeding in Japan and to improve quality of the Japanese horses. In 1923, horse racing legislation, so greatly desired by the horse racing industry, was enacted and led to the formation of 11 racing clubs. Horse racing accompanied by the legal sale of betting tickets was thus established. Shortly thereafter, the Imperial Racing Society was established as a horse racing authority of 11 racing clubs, and was responsible for the rules of racing, which served as a model for the rules of the individual racing clubs. The Imperial Racing Society defined the registration of racing colors, the education of trainers, and the licensing of jockeys, among other horse racing functions. The Horse racing Law underwent a major revision in 1936, which saw the formation of the Japan Racing Society which legally merged the 11 racing clubs and the Imperial Racing Society in their entirety, including their facilities and horse racing functions. This reform brought favorable account on horse racing in Japan, constituting the Japanese Derby as well as other classic races, along with a complete change and improvement in racing itself. There were also dramatic increases in the turnover as well as attendance, marking the birth of modern horse racing in Japan as it exists today. In 1941, Saint Lite became the first Triple Crown winner in Japan. However, during the latter part of World War II, the racecourses were forced to suspend operations and the most historic of the modern racecourses, Yokohama, was commanded by the government for military use. The termination of hostilities saw an immediate resumption of horse racing, when in 1946, Tokyo and Kyoto began holding race meetings. Also, 1947 brought a new type of betting “quinella” for the first time in Japan. In 1948, a new Horse racing Law was introduced, whereby the Japan Racing Society was abolished and under the new law, the government (the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) took total control of horse racing. Although this “government horse racing” continued much the same as before, the turnover did not increase throughout this extremely difficult period. In 1954, the Horse racing Law was amended again, to enact the Japan Racing Association Law. This established the Japan Racing Association, or as it is now known as JRA, which took over the entire horse racing functions and operations of government horse racing. These laws not only provided for “national racing” in Japan, but also for the legalization and operation of “regional public racing” as a separate system to that of national racing. 1 | returning benefits to society as a whole. orse racing in Japan is characterized by fair racing which is held with integrity in a systematic, orderly JRA operates 10 racecourses with eight of these holding manner as prescribed by the Horse racing Law of Japan. All both flat and jump racing. The remaining two racecourses authorized racing in Japan, by law, must be conducted by the only hold flat racing. In 2018, there were 3,454 races, which Japan Racing Association (JRA) (a public enterprise generated a betting turnover of ¥2.8 trillion. established by the national government) and local government entities. National Association of Racing (NAR; operated by Local Governments) Furthermore, the law does not permit wagering to be conducted by anyone other than racing authorities and racing esignated autonomous local municipalities and authorities must offer all wagers under a pari-mutuel formula. designated prefectural governments have held Racing Japan has to rank among countries around the world as one by Local Governments since 1948. NAR is the centralized in which thoroughbred horse racing is the most popular. organization and registry for Racing by Local Governments. Totally, Japan held 1,565 race meetings in 2018, with 16,498 This racing, like that of JRA, is under the oversight of the flat and jump races. The betting turnover is number one Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and operates worldwide, with total flat and jump purses that rank first in among other purposes to contribute to the finances of local the world. Globally, Japan also breeds the fifth highest governments. number of Thoroughbreds. The NAR was established in 1962 to standardize the registration of local racing’s racehorse owners and JRA Racing (operated by the Japan racehorses as well as to establish a licensing authority for Racing Association) local racing trainers and jockeys nationwide. Racing by local governments consists of 14 local governments located RA was established in 1954 by the enactment of the Japan throughout the country, which serve as organizers of the Racing Association Law to take over horse racing that had races held within their jurisdiction. These 14 local been operated by the national government. JRA operates governments are comprised of two prefectural governments, under the oversight of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry two municipal, and 10 joint-organizations. NAR is the and Fisheries. authority that oversees this racing. The main office of JRA which is located in Tokyo, acts as The 14 organizers of racing by local governments held the nerve center for the nationwide network of 10 14,677 races during 2018 at 17 tracks with a turnover of racecourses, the 42 off-course betting facilities called approximately ¥586 billion. They operated 17 tracks, which “WINS” and other JRA related entities, and engages in included two (Sapporo and Chukyo) on loan from JRA and activities concerning the direct or indirect development and one racecourse (Obihiro) which specializes in only draft operation of national horse racing. horse races. JRA is required to provide 10% of its gross betting turnover to the national treasury, as well as 50% of any surplus profits remaining at the end of the fiscal year. In fiscal 2018, JRA paid approximately ¥307 billion into the National Treasury, use of which is specified by law: three-quarters must be designated for improvement of livestock breeding and the remaining one-quarter for public or social welfare. JRA also contributes to horse breeding, as well as the propagation and promotion of other types of livestock programs. JRA also provides for the promotion of equestrian culture, thereby 2018 Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) 2 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2019 levels of ability are always determined according to that measure. The highest level of these races is the open races, among RA holds thoroughbred flat races and jump races in Japan, which high-value races are considered graded races. In order with about half of the racing schedule for flat races is held to promote the broad recognition of the role and importance on turf and half on dirt courses. of grading the races and provide a benchmark for the breeding industry, graded race structure was implemented in Racing Calendar 1984. In 2007, Japan was promoted to Part I country of the International Cataloging Standards, and ever since, the RA is allowed to hold 36 meetings annually. A race number of Japanese graded races gaining international meeting is a maximum of 12 days, with racing held 288 recognition increased by the year, and in 2010, all Japanese days a year. As a general rule, race meetings must have a graded races were recognized as international graded races maximum of 12 races a day. and became open to foreign-trained horses. JRA also JRA racing days are in principle limited to weekends, on introduced a grading system to jump races in 1999, and there both Saturday and Sunday, with several exceptions for are now 10 graded Jump Races: J-GI (2 races), J-GII (3 national holidays. Special provisions exist for JRA to hold races) and J-GIII (5 races). racing during the weekdays in emergency circumstances. Number of JRA Races by Class in 2018 Classes No. of races (share %) 2018 JRA Races 3,454 Graded 131 (3.9) Flat races 3,328 (1,675 turf/1,653 dirt) Open 113 (3.4) Jump races 126 3-win 181 (5.4) 2-win 427 (12.8) 1-win 1,040 (31.3) Newcomer 288 (8.7) Maiden 1,148 (34.5) Race Distance Racing Calendar he distance for two-year-old flat races must be 800 meters or longer, while the distance for three-year-olds and up must be 1,000 meters or longer. Race distance is gradually extended between horses making their debut as two-years Types of Races old and the spring of their three-year-old season, taking into account factors such as the horse’s growth and racing Racing Calendar RA racing is divided into two categories: flat and jump experience, so that by the time three-year-olds start racing.